GWR postcards


Other series


Fishguard Route Series - 1908

The Great Western Railway had hoped for greater success with their sea routes from Fishguard, especially those to Ireland, but they faced stiff competition from the route established by the London & North Western Railway via Holyhead. To help publicise their route the GWR produced a set of four cards in 1908 for use on their steamers making the crossing to and from Ireland.

These green collotype cards all carried the title Fishguard Route To Ireland on the front together with the title of the particular card. The words GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY FISHGUARD ROUTE SERIES were printed down the left hand edge of the address side which also carried in the centre, enclosed in a rectangular box, the two shields of the company crest above G.W.R.. These cards were also used as correspondence cards with standard wording overprinted on the address side.
GWR postcard - Turbine Steamer
Turbine Steamer
GWR postcard - Steamer alongside at Fishguard
Drawing Room, Turbine Steamer
GWR postcard - Turbine Steamer
Saloon, Turbine Steamer
GWR postcard - Steamer alongside at Fishguard
Steamer alongside at Fishguard
GWR postcard - Fishguard Route Series back
Fishguard Route Series back


Docks Series - 1922

Thought to have been issued in 1922, or possibly as late as 1923/4, this series of twelve photographic cards was printed by The Autotype Company Ltd. of London. The picture side carried the name of the printer with the title of the card being printed beneath the image and Great Western Railway underneath.The address side bore no mention of the GWR or company crest, but each did carry a brief description of the port illustrated at the top of the correspondence panel.

~~ Click or tap on any card back thumbnail to see a magnified version ~~

GWR postcard - Aerial View - Barry Docks
Aerial View - Barry Docks
GWR postcard - Aerial View - No. 2 Dock, Barry
Aerial View - No. 2 Dock, Barry
GWR postcard - Barry docks back
Barry Docks back
GWR postcard - Aerial View - Queen Alexandra Dock, Cardiff
Aerial View - Queen Alexandra Dock, Cardiff
GWR postcard - General View of Queen Alexandra Dock, Cardiff
General View of Queen Alexandra Dock, Cardiff
GWR postcard - Aerial View - Roath Dock and Basin, Cardiff
Aerial View - Roath Dock and Basin, Cardiff
GWR postcard - Cardiff Docks
Cardiff Docks back
GWR postcard - Aerial View - Alexandra Docks, Newport
Aerial View - Alexandra Docks, Newport
GWR postcard - General View of Coal Hoists at Alexandra Dock, Newport
General View of Coal Hoists at Alexandra Dock, Newport
GWR postcard - Newport docks back
Newport Docks back
GWR postcard - Vessel loading coal at Penarth Dock
Vessel loading coal at Penarth Dock
GWR postcard - Penarth Dock and Harbour back
Penarth Dock and Harbour back
GWR postcard - Aerial View - Millbay Docks, Plymouth
Aerial View - Millbay Docks, Plymouth
GWR postcard - Plymouth back
Plymouth back
GWR postcard - Port Talbot Docks
Port Talbot, loading coal by Electric Belt Conveyor
GWR postcard - Port Talbot Docks back
Port Talbot Docks back
GWR postcard - Swansea Docks
General View, King's Dock, Swansea
GWR postcard - Swansea Docks
Oil Tankers at Swansea Docks
GWR postcard - Swansea Docks back
Swansea Docks back


Cathedrals - 1925 Series

A further series of Cathedrals cards was published in 1925. These cards did not carry a series number on the address side, otherwise they were identical in all respects to those issued as Series 12 with Published by the Great Western Railway, Paddington Station, London, W.2 and Felix J. C. Pole, General Manager together with a brief history and description of the cathedral illustrated being printed in the address panel on the back. It is not known how many different cards comprised this series.

~~ Click or tap on any card back thumbnail to see a magnified version ~~

GWR postcard - The Nave, Bath Abbey
The Nave, Bath Abbey
GWR postcard - The Nave, Bath Abbey card back
The Nave, Bath Abbey back
GWR postcard - Llandaff Cathedral, West Front
Llandaff Cathedral, West Front
GWR postcard - Llandaff Cathedral, West Front card back
Llandaff Cathedral, West Front back
GWR postcard - Watching Chamber of the Shrine of St.Frideswide, Oxford, Christ Church
Shrine of St.Frideswide, Oxford, Christ Church
GWR postcard - Watching Chamber of the Shrine of St.Frideswide, Oxford, Christ Church card back
Shrine of St.Frideswide, Oxford, Christ Church back
GWR postcard - St. Paul's Cathedral, The Choir
St. Paul's Cathedral, The Choir
GWR postcard - St. Paul's Cathedral,The Choir back
St. Paul's Cathedral, The Choir back
GWR postcard - The Nave, Wells Cathedral
The Nave, Wells Cathedral
GWR postcard - The Nave, Wells Cathedral card back
The Nave, Wells Cathedral back
GWR postcard - Wells Cathedral, West Front
Wells Cathedral, West Front
GWR postcard - Wells Cathedral, West Front card back
Wells Cathedral, West Front back
GWR postcard - Westminster Abbey, Unknown Warrior's Tomb
Westminster Abbey, Unknown Warrior's Tomb
GWR postcard - Westminster Abbey, Unknown Warrior's Tomb card back
Westminster Abbey, Unknown Warrior's Tomb back


The Western Land Series - 1938

This set of 8 colour postcards, based on paintings by Leonard Richmond, was published at the the same time as a free booklet entitled 'The Western Land'. They were produced by W.G.Briggs & Co., Ltd., Engravers, Photographers and Artists of London and carried their name and company logo together with the image title on the address side. Whilst the GWR company crest or name was not included, each card had printed down the left hand side To learn more of this delightful district write for free booklet "The Western Land" to the Superintendant of the Line, G.W.R., Paddington Station, London, W.2.. These cards were unusual in that they were larger than standard, being 5½"x4⅛" in size.

Leonard Richmond was a popular and well regarded artist of the time. At least two sets of postcards featuring his paintings of the Channel Islands
Channel Islands Series A
St. Aubin's Castle, Jersey
Author's collection
were published by W.G.Briggs & Co. themselves. The Southern Railway published four sets of eight postcards during 1939, 'Channel Ports', 'Bournemouth', 'North Cornwall'
Southern Railway
Low Tide, Padstow Harbour
Author's collection
and 'North Devon', each set selling for 1/- (one shilling). With the exception of the 'Channel Ports' set, all these postcards printed by Briggs were the same large size and, other than the addition of railway company branding where appropriate, were similary worded. The 'Channel Ports' series promoted Eight routes to the continent by Southern Railway and were later overprinted to be used by the office of the Continental Superintendant of British Railways at Victoria Station As well as postcards, his paintings were used on railway posters and in 1929 the Southern Railway had published a book, 'Come Abroad With Us', promoting travel to Europe and which contained fifteen of his paintings.
GWR postcard - Mousehole
Mousehole, near Penzance
GWR postcard - Mousehole postcard back
Posted to London, franked 'Taunton Aug 1946'

Other cards in the series